Chairperson, the ANC supports the Communications Budget Vote. Our policy framework and legislative instruments are firmly in place. The ICT sector is growing at an impressive and rapid pace in the country, which needs to be encouraged.
We have, recently, passed two very important pieces of legislation that hon Dene Smuts has referred to, namely the Electronic Communications Act and the Icasa Amendment Bill, with the latter awaiting the signature of the President, to strengthen policy implementation and regulation.
We are satisfied that the budget allocated to the Department of Communications adequately addresses the challenges of the current conjuncture. It's unfortunate that we've got to drag the DA and other opposition parties, screaming and kicking, into this revolution that they are part of.
The question of Icasa was resolved in this House with an amendment to the piece of legislation concerned and I don't know why hon members are still whingeing about it. The ANC is committed to the question of strengthening Icasa. We've agreed to do that together.
The ACDP will actually benefit from attending meetings so as to understand that Icasa, not the Department of Communications, issues licences for radio stations. So we support this Budget Vote. Thank you. [Applause.]
Vote agreed to (Democratic Alliance, African Christian Democratic Party and Independent Democrats dissenting).
Vote No 27 - Environmental Affairs and Tourism - put and agreed.
Vote No 28 - Housing - put.
Declarations of vote: